Multi-orifice plate carrier and fitting with positioner, differential selector and horizontal adjusting bar

ABSTRACT

A multi-orifice plate carrier for use in a modified orifice fitting and a differential pressure-operated, mechanical valve and piston system for vertically and horizontally adjusting the multi-orifice plate carrier to facilitate recordation of various line pressures on an appropriate recording meter. In a preferred embodiment two or more pressure recording meters are fitted with corresponding meter valves and a common pressure selector valve, along with a spring-loaded or fluid-operated plate piston connected to the multi-orifice plate carrier and a horizontal adjusting bar engaging the plate piston rod, to facilitate vertical adjustment of the multi-orifice plate carrier, horizontal shifting of the orifice plate carrier and resulting alignment of an orifice of selected diameter in the line bore of the orifice and reading of a corresponding recording meter responsive to automatic operation of the pressure selector valve and meter valves. Fully automatic vertical adjustment of the multi-orifice plate carrier may be effected by implementing a remote, radio-operated transceiving unit to actuate a pneumatic switching valve and actuate the pressure selector valve and plate piston.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to orifice fittings for measuring the flow offluids, including oil, gas, water and slurries in pipelines. Moreparticularly, the invention includes apparatus for vertical andhorizontal alignment of selected orifice plates and orifices mounted ina multi-orifice plate carrier in a flow line bore, which orifice platecarrier is located in a specially designed orifice fitting and coupledto a plate positioning and differential selector mechanism forautomatically mechanically adjusting the multi-orifice plate carriervertically inside the orifice fitting by pressure differential. Ahorizontal adjusting bar is slidably seated in the lower orifice platehousing and is connected to the orifice plate piston to facilitatemanual horizontal adjustment of the multi-orifice plate carrier and aselected orifice plate and orifice in the line bore. Recording metersare also provided, each having an appropriate scale for reading andrecording the differential pressure across the respective orifices andorifice plates in the multi-orifice plate carrier, responsive tooperation of the plate positioning and differential selector mechanism.

Conventional orifice fittings facilitate removal of orifice plateshaving a single orifice from the line bore of the orifice fittingwithout terminating flow of the fluid through the pipeline. Theseorifice fittings are typically provided with dual chambers which allowthe orifice plates to be removed safely and conveniently in apressurized pipeline without reducing or terminating the pressure in thepipeline. Removal and replacement of the respective single orificeplates to effect alignment of an orifice of appropriate size in thefluid flowing through the pipeline is typically effected by operation ofa rack-and-pinion-operated, stainless steel slide valve which, whenclosed, separates the dual chambers in the orifice chambers. The slidevalve cannot be closed unless the orifice is properly located in theupper chamber of the orifice fitting and the valve may be easily openedand closed from outside the orifice fitting to effect the desiredorifice plate change. Other conventional orifice fittings include singlechamber fittings and both the single and dual chamber orifice fittingsrequire periodic removal and replacement of the respective orificeplates to facilitate presentation of an orifice of selected size in theline bore and compensate for pressure fluctuations of the fluid in thepipeline in which the orifice fitting is mounted.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical of the single and dual chamber orifice fittings known in the artare the "Superior" (trademark) orifice fitting marketed by SuperiorMeasuring Equipment Company of Houston, Tex.; "C-E Invalco MasterOrifice Fittings" (trademark) marketed by Combustion Engineering ofTulsa, Okla.; "Peco" (trademark) orifice fittings marketed by PerryEquipment Corporation of Mineral Wells, Tex.; and "Daniel" (trademark)orifice fittings marketed by Daniel Industries, Inc., of Houston, Tex.The orifice fittings marketed by these companies are characterized bysingle and dual chamber designs, as described above.

My U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,829, dated Sep. 22, 1992, details a Multi-OrificePlate and Fitting With Postioner and Differential Selector. Themulti-orifice plate is designed for use in a modified orifice fittingand a differential pressure-operated mechanical valve and piston systemfor vertically adjusting the multi-orifice plate to facilitaterecordation of various line pressures on an appropriate recording meter.In a preferred embodiment two or more pressure recording meters arefitted with corresponding meter valves and a common pressure selectorvalve, along with a spring-loaded plate piston connected to themulti-orifice plate to facilitate operation of the plate piston andvertical shifting of the orifice plate, alignment of an orifice ofselected diameter in the line bore of the orifice fitting and reading ofa corresponding recording meter, responsive to automatic operation ofthe pressure selector valve and meter valves. Fully automatic adjustmentof the multi-orifice plate may be effected by implementing a remote,radio-operated transceiving unit to actuate a pneumatic switching valveand actuate the pressure selector valve at plate piston. U.S. Pat. No.2,314,152, dated Mar. 16, 1943, to R. L. Mallory, details a "ControlInstrument" which may be used to determine and control the ratio of theflow of a fluid through one conduit with respect to the flow throughanother conduit. The instrument includes a measuring element, a controldevice operated by the measuring element, a control point adjustingdevice for the control device to adjust the value at which theinstrument will maintain a condition and a pneumatic unit to adjust thecontrol point adjusting device. The improvement includes apressure-responsive member operated independently of the control device,levers operated by the control device and a device to change theresponse of the levers for a given movement of the pressure-responsivemember. A "Remotely Operable Fluid Control Valve" is detailed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,294,112, dated Dec. 27, 1966, to B. J. Watkins. The controlvalve includes a main valve body having a main fluid flow passage and agate-receiving passage normal to and intersecting the main flow passage.The valve body is adapted to be connected into a fluid flow line influid communication with the flow of the fluid in the line. A gatedevice is slidably mounted in the gate-receiving passage and is arrangedto move normal to and through the main passage. Multiple, axially spacedorifices of different size are arranged on the gate device to besuccessively aligned with the main passage. By selectively placing afixed sized orifice in the main passage of the valve, a predeterminedfluid flow can be obtained from the well. A control device is providedfor selectively operating the valve to place the various orifices in themain passages. U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,249, dated Dec. 4, 1973, to Rodney A.Wailes, et al, details a "Pipeline Flow Control System and Method"having multiple power-operated valves located a substantial distanceapart. The method continuously monitors pressure conditions at eachvalve and senses abnormal pressure conditions indicative of a linebreak. When such abnormal pressure conditions occur, the valves onopposite sides of the break automatically close. Pressure sensingcontinues and after certain predetermined pressure requirements are met,the valves are automatically opened. Where the system includes looped orparallel branch lines connected at their ends to upstream and downstreamportions of the main lines, valves in both branch lines and alsoadjacent valves in the main line may close, after which, all of thevalves will be automatically opened except the valves that isolate thebreak. U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,409, dated Dec. 21, 1982, to James S. Jones,details a "Fluid Flow Control Device". A metering apparatus is disposedin a conduit for control of the flow of fluid. A throttle piston ismovable into and out of the conduit device and is responsive to the flowof fluid for maintaining a constant pressure drop across the meteringdevice for any given setting of the metering device. The metering deviceincludes a pierced cylindrical valve body rotatable on an axistransversed to the axis of a conduit device with two scale indexstructures attached thereto for indicating adjustment of flow ratesappropriate to either of the two source pressures. U.S. Pat. No.4,579,143, dated Apr. 1, 1986, to Marvin J. Rollins, et al, details a"Control and Purge Valve for Atomization of Heavy Fuel Oil forCombustion". The device is operable between closed, purging and openpositions and includes an elongated valve body having a disk carrierdisposed therein. The disk carrier preferably includes multiple closureand orifice devices for opening or closing an internally disposed steamexit, steam bypass exit and all exit ports to effect the closed purgingand open positions of the valve of the invention. A "Remote ControlValve Operator" is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,514, dated Dec. 13,1988, to Harold L. Marks. The valve manipulating apparatus includes asupport assembly having one end releasably attachable adjacent to apipeline valve and another end supporting a longitudinally shiftableactuating assembly. A remotely excited, bi-directional motor in theactuating assembly engages the stem of the valve and is operable toalternately open and close the valve by rotating the valve. As the valveis manipulated, its stem either extends or retracts and during thismovement and a coupler on the motor shaft follows the valve stemdisplacement and produces a corresponding displacement of the actuatingassembly. Switch devices on the actuating assembly cooperate withadjustable stop elements carried by the support assembly to provide forautomatic stopping of the motor operation at prescribed points. U.S.Pat. No. 4,838,318, dated Jun. 13, 1989, to George R. Scott, et al,details a "Hydroelectrically Powered, Remotely-Controlled IrrigationSystem". In the system an impeller is positioned within the flow of afluid to be used to irrigate an area. The impeller drives a generatorwhich operates the charge and sustains a storage battery. The batterypowers a receiver having an identification code by which the receivermay be addressed to receive command such as, for example, to open orclose a valve, thereby providing fluid to irrigate an area. By openingthe valve, the fluid flow is increased and more power is generated andstored in the battery. In this way, power is generated automatically forthe receiver which, in turn, controls the fluid flow for irrigation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved orificeplate fitting which is designed to receive a novel vertically andhorizontally-adjustable multi-orifice plate carrier and a companionpositioner and differential selector system for automatically sensingchanging pressure conditions in the line bore of the orifice fitting,changing orifice sizes by vertical orifice plate carrier adjustment inthe orifice fitting and selecting a recording meter having anappropriate recording scale for recording differential fluid pressureacross the orifice located in the line bore of the orifice fitting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmulti-orifice plate carrier and fitting having a mechanical,valve-operated positioner, a differential selector mechanism, and amulti-orifice plate vertical adjusting mechanism, as well as ahorizontal adjusting bar, for vertically and horizontally adjusting themulti-orifice plate and carrier, mounted in a modified orifice fittingto present the proper orifice precisely normal to the fluid flow streamfor pressure measurement by a recording meter having a scalecorresponding to the pressure differential of the fluid flowing throughthe orifice and line bore of the orifice fitting.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a multi-orificeplate carrier for vertical and adjustable mounting in a speciallydesigned orifice fitting and a pressure selector valve, meter valves,recording meter or meters and plate piston coupled to the multi-orificeplate carrier, wherein the pressure selector valve operates to sense achange in pressure of the fluid flowing through the line bore of theorifice fitting, and in connection with the meter valves, the platepiston facilitates vertical adjustment of the multi-orifice platecarrier and orifice plate alignment to vertically position an orifice ofselected size in the line bore. A horizontal adjusting bar connected tothe plate piston facilitates manual horizontal adjustment of the platepiston and orifice fitting to align the orifice precisely in the linebore normal to the flow of fluid through the line bore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are provided in a multi-orificeplate carrier which is both vertically and horizontally slidablyadjustable in an elongated orifice fitting and is connected to apressure-operated plate piston and operating assembly. Further includedis a pressure selector valve, meter valve and recording meter systemdesigned to sense pressure fluctuations in the line bore of the orificefitting due to variations in the flow of fluid through the line bore forvertically adjusting the multi-orifice plate carrier in the orificefitting to orient an orifice of appropriate size in the flow stream ofthe line bore and select a recording meter having a recording rangecorresponding to the differential pressure of the fluid flowing throughthe orifice. A horizontal adjusting bar engages the plate piston foreffecting manual horizontal adjustment of the plate piston and attachedmulti-orifice plate carrier to position the desired orifice normal tothe fluid flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view of a preferredembodiment of an orifice fitting for accommodating the multi-orificeplate carrier of this invention, including a horizontal adjusting barslidably disposed in the orifice fitting lower housing and aspring-operated cylinder for horizontal and vertical plate carrieradjustment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along 2--2 of the orifice fittingillustrated in FIG. 1, with the plate position assembly rotated 90degrees for clarity and more particularly illustrating the horizontaladjusting bar and a fluid-operated cylinder in place of thespring-operated cylinder illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the orifice fittingillustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating verticaladjustment of the multi-orifice plate carrier for removal from theorifice fitting;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a typical multi-orifice plate carrierembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a typical meter valve used in themulti-orifice plate carrier positioning and differential pressureselecting system of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the horizontaladjusting bar and cooperating rod locking mechanism for effectinghorizontal adjustment of the plate orifices in the fluid flow line bore;

FIG. 7 is a front view, partially in section, of the orifice fittingillustrated in FIG. 1 and a schematic of the multi-orifice plate carrierpositioning and differential pressure selecting system coupled to themulti-orifice plate cylinder located in functional position on theorifice fitting; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic of an alternative radio-operated system forremotely operating the multi-orifice plate carrier and fitting withpositioning and differential pressure selecting system of thisinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a multi-orificeplate fitting, modified or constructed according to the requirements ofthis invention, is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. Themulti-orifice plate fitting 1 is characterized by an upper housing 2,provided with an internal upper housing chamber 2a, a housing extension3, having a vertical housing extension chamber 3a therein communicatingwith the upper housing chamber 2a and a lower housing 4, provided withan internal lower housing chamber 4a, which communicates with thehousing extension chamber 3a and the upper housing chamber 2a, asillustrated in FIG. 2. A pair of housing flanges 5 may be provided onthe flange necks 8 of the lower housing 4 for securing the multi-orificeplate fitting 1 into position in a pipeline (not illustrated). However,it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternativeconnecting devices such as weld neck flanges and the like, may beprovided on the flange neck 8 for pipeline connecting purposes,according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Undercircumstances Where the housing flanges 5 are utilized to connect themulti-orifice plate fitting 1 to a pipeline, spaced flange bolt openings6 are provided in the housing flanges 5 for receiving flange bolts (notillustrated) and effectuating the proper connection in conventionalfashion. A line bore 7 extends from each of the housing flanges 5through the flange necks 8 and lower housing 4 and a rectangular platecarrier 48, illustrated in FIG. 4, is vertically disposed in a pair ofaligned housing slots 19, provided in the lower housing 4 and projectstransversely through the line bore 7, as further illustrated in FIG. 2.Upper housing bolts 9 serve to bolt the upper housing 2 to the lowerhousing 4 and a lower housing extension 11 is bolted to the lowerportion of the lower housing 4 by means of extension bolts 11a. Theinternal lower extension chamber 10 receives the lower end of the platecarrier 48, which projects from the lower housing chamber 4a through thehousing slots 19 and the line bore 7 and into the lower extensionchamber 10, as further illustrated in FIG. 2. This vertical orientationof the plate carrier 48 in the multi-orifice plate fitting 1 andtransversely in the line bore 7 centers a top orifice plate 40, having atop orifice plate 41, also transversely in the line bore 7, such thatfluid flowing through the line bore 7 in the direction of the arrowsillustrated in FIG. 2 also flows through a top orifice 41 located in thetop orifice plate 40, thereby creating a pressure differential acrossthe top orifice plate 40, from the upstream to the downstream side ofthe top orifice plate 40. This pressure differential is measured by arecording meter to determine the flow rate of the fluid inside the linebore 7, as hereinafter further described.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, a pair of clamping andsealing bars 26 are seated in a housing slot 23 and a pair of set screws27 are threaded into the top one of the clamping and sealing bars 26 inconventional fashion to facilitate removal of the plate carrier 48 fromthe multi-orifice plate fitting 1, as hereinafter described.Furthermore, a cylinder 13 is mounted on the lower housing extension 11as hereinafter described and a piston 12 is slidably mounted inside thecylinder and is fitted to one end of a piston rod 12a, which projectsthrough the center of a piston spring 15, disposed in the cylinder 13,as illustrated in FIG. 1. The piston rod 12aprojects upwardly throughthe threaded cylinder neck 16 of the cylinder 13, which threadedcylinder neck 13 is threaded into a threaded cylinder neck receptacle 39of the lower housing extension 11. A piston access opening 37a isprovided in the bar segment 37 of a horizontal adjusting bar 28,horizontally adjustable in the lower housing extension 11 of the lowerhousing 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. A pair of segment flanges 38extend from the bar segment 37 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 and thesegment flanges 38 slidably engage corresponding slot segments providedin an adjusting bar slot 42, horizontally oriented in the lower housingextension 11, as further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. Bar set screws44, illustrated in FIG. 1, seat in threaded set screw apertures 47 inthe lower housing extension 11 and selectively engage and disengage thesegment flanges 38 to facilitate selective manual slidable adjustment ofthe horizontal adjusting bar 28 in the adjusting bar slot 42. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 1, a drain plug 18 drains the lower housingextension 11 and a piston spring 15 is provided inside the cylinder 13to engage the piston 12, positioned beneath the piston spring 15, andbias the piston 12 and piston rod 12a upwardly, as hereinafter furtherdescribed. Alternatively, the piston 12 can be operated either as asingle-action or double-action piston, by means of an operating fluidsuch as air, which is selectively pumped into the cylinder 13 throughthe air conduits 75, in a mechanical configuration illustrated in FIG. 2and as further hereinafter described. As further illustrated in FIG. 6,a rod locking mechanism 52 serves to connect the extending end of thepiston rod 12a to the bottom of the plate carrier 48, by means of apiston lock pin 71, having an enlarged pin head 71a and a pin shaft 71b,the latter threaded into or otherwise connected to the piston rod 12a.The rod locking mechanism 52 also includes a carrier slot 48a, providedin the plate carrier 48 to accommodate the piston lock pin 71 and a pairof horizontal spring bores 58, also provided in the plate carrier 48normal to the carrier slot 48a, for receiving a pair of tension springs58a and tension bearings 57. A corresponding pair of tension screws 59are threaded in the spring bores 58 for selectively tensioning thetension bearings 57 against the pin shaft 71b of the piston lock pin 71as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 6. The bottom end of the plate carrier48 projects into a carrier access slot 37b, provided in the bar segment37, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an equalizer valve 32 is seated ina stuffing box 34, mounted in the upper housing 2 of the multi-orificeplate fitting 1 and communicates with an equalizer passage 33, whichextends into communication with the lower housing chamber 4a. A valvestem 35 facilitates opening and closing the equalizer valve 32. A greasefitting 36 is also provided in the upper housing 2, as illustrated andan upper carriage pinion 20 is mounted on a pinion shaft 24 and islocated in the upper housing chamber 2a of the upper housing 2 forremoving the plate carrier 48 from the multi-orifice plate fitting 1, ashereinafter further described. It will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that the pinion shaft 24 which carries the upper carriagepinion 20 extends through a stuffing box (not illustrated) provided inthe upper housing 2 and is fitted for connection to a crank or otherapparatus (not illustrated), for rotating the upper carriage pinion 20and upper carriage pinion 20, as hereinafter further described. A lowercarriage pinion 22 is also mounted on a pinion shaft 24, which projectsthrough a similar stuffing box (not illustrated) located in the lowerhousing 4 and is fitted for connection to a similar crank (notillustrated) for the same purpose. The lower carriage pinion 22 ispositioned immediately adjacent to the upper portion of the platecarrier 48, with one of the rack segments 50 which borders the centerpanel 49 of the carrier 48, located in meshing contact with the pinionteeth 25 of the lower carriage pinion 22. Accordingly, rotation of thepinion shaft 24 and lower carriage pinion 22 in the counterclockwisedirection as indicated by the arrow, causes an upward movement of theplate carrier 48 through the line bore 7 and housing slots 19 and insidethe lower extension chamber 10, lower housing chamber 4a, and housingextension chamber 3a, to facilitate location of the plate carrier 48primarily in the housing extension chamber 3a and upper housing chamber2a, as hereinafter further described. A slide valve pinion 55 issimilarly mounted on another pinion shaft 24 and is located in the lowerhousing chamber 4a of the lower housing 4 in spaced relationship withrespect to the lower chamber pinion 22, in conventional relationship.The rack teeth 51 of a slide valve rack 54, located on the bottom of aslide valve 53, also disposed in the lower housing chamber 4a, mesh withthe pinion teeth 25 of the slide valve pinion 55. The slide valve 53 is,in turn, conventionally slidably mounted on a slide valve mount 56,which forms a part of the upper portion of the lower housing 4, tofacilitate sliding movement of the slide valve 53 from the positionillustrated in FIG. 2, where there is continuity of the opening whichdefines the housing extension chamber 3a and the lower housing chamber4a, to a position closing the housing extension chamber 3a from thelower housing chamber 4a. This sliding movement of the slide valve 53 iseffected by rotation of the pinion shaft 24, which receives the slidevalve pinion 55, and the pinion shaft 24 projects through a stuffing box(not illustrated) in the lower housing 4 and receives a crank or othermechanism (not illustrated) for rotating the slide valve pinion 55 inconventional fashion, as described above. Vertical upward movement ofthe plate carrier 48 is similarly effected, first by operation of thelower carriage pinion 22 and then by rotation of the upper carriagepinion 20, when the top end of the plate carrier 48 and a rack segment50 reaches the upper carriage pinion 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the plate carrier 48 is typically fittedwith a top orifice plate 40, having a top orifice 41, and a bottomorifice plate 45, provided with a larger bottom orifice 46. Both the toporifice plate 40 and bottom orifice plate 45 are mounted on the platecarrier 48 by means of a rubber gasket or plate mount 43. The parallel,dual rack segments 50 are designed to selectively contact the pinionteeth 25 of the lower carriage pinion 22 and upper carriage pinion 20,depending upon the relative location of the latter.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawings, the mechanism formechanically selecting a proper recording meter for recording pressuredifferentials across the top orifice 41, located in the line bore 7 ofthe multi-orifice plate fitting 1, and the bottom orifice 46, when theplate carrier 48 is shifted, includes a pressure selector valve 76, afirst meter valve 60 and a second meter valve 89, both of the latter ofwhich are connected by fluid pressure lines to the high and low pressuresides of the top orifice plate 40, for monitoring the fluid pressurefluctuation across the top orifice plate 40, as hereinafter furtherdescribed. In a preferred embodiment the first meter valve 60 and secondmeter valve 89 are structured as illustrated in FIG. 5, where the firstmeter valve 60 is shown for purposes of illustration. The first metervalve 60 and second meter valve 89 each include a valve housing 61,having a valve low pressure inlet 62 fitted with internal inlet threads63 and an inlet plug 64 threadably inserted in the valve low pressureinlet 62 and having a ball seat 65 on the inwardly facing end thereof,as illustrated. A valve high pressure inlet 66 is provided in theopposite side of the valve housing 61 from the valve low pressure inlet62 and is also provided with a ball seat 65, which is spaced from andfaces the ball seat 65 provided in the inlet plug 64. A cylindrical,open-ended ball chamber 67 is positioned between the ball seat 65 and aball 68 is located in the ball chamber 67, with freedom to roll to andfrom each ball seat 65. An opening (not illustrated) is provided in theupper middle portion of the cylindrical ball chamber 67, which openingcommunicates with a valve differential pressure outlet 70, located inthe top portion of the valve housing 61 and communicates with the topopening in the ball chamber 67, as further illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the pressure selector valve 76is characterized in a most preferred embodiment by a cylindricalselector valve housing 78, having closed ends and a hollow housinginterior 78a. A valve spring 77 is located in one end of the housinginterior 78a and is constrained to remain in position by a differentialpressure selector valve piston 87, rigidly mounted on one end of aselector valve piston rod 88. A middle selector valve piston 86 isspaced from the differential pressure selector valve piston 87 and isrigidly attached to the selector valve piston rod 88 and a low pressureselector valve piston 85 is spaced from the middle selector valve piston86 and is similarly rigidly mounted on the opposite end of the selectorvalve piston rod 88. Accordingly, it will be appreciated from aconsideration of FIG. 7 that the low pressure selector valve piston 85,middle selector valve piston 86 and differential pressure selector valvepiston 87 are constrained to remain in spaced relationship with respectto each other responsive to movement with the selector valve piston rod88, since they are rigidly mounted on the selector valve piston rod 88in the illustrated dissimilarly spaced relationship. A sealing ring 90may be provided on the outer peripheral circumference of each of the lowpressure selector valve piston 85, middle selector valve piston 86 anddifferential pressure selector valve piston 87 for sealing purposes,according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. A low pressureinlet port 79 is provided in one end of the selector valve housing 78and communicates with the housing interior 78a in a space between thelow pressure selector valve piston 85 and the end wall of the selectorvalve housing 78, as illustrated. A high pressure inlet port 80 isprovided in the cylindrical wall of the selector valve housing 78 andcommunicates with the housing interior 78a in a space between the middleselector valve piston 86 and the differential pressure selector valvepiston 87. Furthermore, a first meter vent 82 is provided in thecylindrical wall of the selector valve housing 78 and communicates withthe housing interior 78a in the space between the low pressure selectorvalve piston 85 and the differential middle selector valve piston 86.Similarly, a second meter vent 83 is provided in the cylindrical wall ofthe selector valve housing 78 spaced from the first meter vent 82 andcommunicates with that space in the housing interior 78a which receivesand accommodates the valve spring 77. A first meter differentialpressure outlet 94 is located in the cylindrical wall of the selectorvalve housing 78 substantially opposite the high pressure inlet port 80in the housing interior 78a space between the middle selector valvepiston 86 and the differential pressure selector valve piston 87. Asecond meter differential pressure outlet 96 is provided in thecylindrical wall of the selector valve housing 78, spaced from thesecond meter vent 83, and also communicates with that portion of thehousing interior 78a which accommodates the valve spring 77. The firstmeter valve 60 and second meter valve 89 are each internally configuredas illustrated in FIG. 5 and are positioned for attachment to thepressure selector valve 76 as follows: The first meter valve 60 isconnected to the pressure selector valve 76 by means of a first meterdifferential pressure feed line 93, which extends from the first meterdifferential pressure outlet 94 in the pressure selector valve 76, tothe valve high pressure inlet 66 of the first meter valve 60. The secondmeter valve 89 is attached to the pressure selector valve 76 by a secondmeter differential pressure feed line 95, extending from the secondmeter differential pressure outlet 96 in the pressure selector valve 76,to the valve low pressure inlet 62 of the second meter valve 89. Thefirst meter valve 60 and second meter valve 89 are also connected to thelow pressure side of the top orifice 41, disposed in the top orificeplate 40, located in the line bore 7 of the lower housing 4, by means ofa valve low pressure line 73, which communicates with the valve lowpressure inlet 62 of each of the first meter valves 60 and the secondmeter valve 89. Similarly, a meter low pressure line 74 also connectsthe low pressure end of the top orifice 41 to a first recording meter 72and a second recording meter 91 that are, in turn, connected to thefirst meter valve 60 and the second meter valve 89 by means of a pair ofmeter differential pressure lines 69, which extend from the valvedifferential pressure outlets 70, respectively, of the first meter valve60 and the second meter valve 89. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedfrom a consideration of FIG. 7 that pressure variations in the upstream,or high pressure side of the line bore 7 with respect to the top orifice41 are transmitted to the pressure selector valve 76 and from there tothe first meter valve 60 and second meter valve 89, to switch thepressure recording operation from the first meter 72 to the second meter91, as hereinafter further described.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings, vertical adjustmentof the plate carrier 48, and thus, the top orifice plate 40 and bottomorifice plate 45, responsive to pressure fluctuations in the fluidflowing in the line bore 7 is accomplished by operation of the cylinder13. A first meter-selector valve line 81 extends between the firstrecording meter 72 and the low pressure inlet port 79 of the pressureselector valve 76, to facilitate generation of a pressure signal havinga selected magnitude from the first recording meter 72 when a pressurechange is first sensed in the line bore 7, as hereinafter furtherdescribed. This pressure signal generated by the first recording meter72 is typically about 20 pounds per square inch and is also transmittedto the piston 12 inside the cylinder 13, by means of the firstmeter-selector valve line 81, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The 20-poundpressure applied to the piston 12 forces the plate piston 12 upwardlyinside the cylinder 13 and causes the piston rod 12a to move upwardly,thereby also forcing the plate carrier 48 upwardly, to position thelarger bottom orifice plate 45 in the line bore 7 in place of the toporifice plate 40. Precise vertical alignment of the bottom orifice plate45 normal to the flow of fluid through the line bore 7 is then effectedby manual slidable manipulation of the horizontal adjusting bar 28, ashereinafter further described. The new differential pressure across thenewly positioned and vertically aligned top orifice 41 in the toporifice plate 40 is then measured and recorded by the second recordingmeter 91, according to a mechanical sequence which will be hereinafterfurther described.

In further operation, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat shifting of the plate carrier 48 to reposition the top orificeplate 40 and the bottom orifice plate 45 in the line bore 7 is effectedby a mechanical sequence which is activated by pressure differential.When the flow of fluid through the line bore 7 is steady, underconditions of substantially constant pressure, the low pressure selectorvalve piston 85, located in the pressure selector valve 76, is subjectedto atmospheric pressure. Consequently, the pressure inside the housinginterior 78a of the pressure selector valve 76 is also subjected toatmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the first recording meter 72 recordsthe differential pressure across the top orifice plate 40 plus static,or atmospheric pressure in conventional fashion and the second recordingmeter 91 is subjected to static or atmospheric pressure only. Thedifferential pressure recorded by the first recording meter 72 istherefore effected by high pressure on the upstream side of the toporifice plate 40 and lower pressure on the downstream side of the toporifice plate 40. When the differential pressure across the top orificeplate 40 increases due to an increase in pressure of the fluid flowingthrough the line bore 7, this pressure is transmitted to the pressureselector valve 76 at the high pressure inlet port 80 through the highpressure selector valve line 84. The increase in pressure in the housinginterior 78a of the pressure selector valve 76 between the middleselector valve piston 86 and the differential pressure selector valvepiston 87 causes a pressure increase in the first meter differentialpressure feed line 93, connected to the feed meter differential pressureoutlet 94 of the pressure selector valve 76. This pressure is thentransmitted to the first meter valve 60 through the valve high pressureinlet 66, thereby forcing the ball 68 against the ball seat 65 locatedin the inlet plug 64, which is threaded in the valve low pressure inlet62 of the first meter valve 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. Thepressure is further transmitted through the valve differential pressureoutlet 70 and through the meter differential pressure line 69 to thefirst recording meter 72. Since the pressure entering the firstrecording meter 72 is greater than the pressure provided in the firstrecording meter 72 from the meter low pressure line 74, whichcommunicates with the low pressure side of the top orifice plate 40, thedifferential pressure in the first recording meter 72 begins to rise,which pressure increase is recorded on a chart (not illustrated). Duringthis period of time, static or atmospheric pressure alone is applied tothat portion of the housing interior 78a in the pressure selector valve76 which contains the valve spring 77, as well as the second meter valve89 and the second recording meter 91, respectively. Increasing pressurein the first recording meter 72 finally reaches a predetermined pointwhere an output signal of selected magnitude, 20 pounds per square inch,for example, is generated by the first recording meter 72 and this 20pounds of pressure is transmitted from the first recording meter 72through the first meter-selector valve line 81 to the housing interior78a of the pressure selector valve 76, at the low pressure inlet port 79and simultaneously, to the piston 12 of the cylinder 13. The pressureapplied to the piston 12 forces the piston 12 and the piston rod 12aupwardly, either against the bias of the piston spring 15, asillustrated in FIG. 1, or against the pressure of air as an operatingfluid introduced into the upper air conduit 75, attached to the cylinder13, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. This action also forces the platecarrier 48 vertically upwardly inside the multi-orifice plate fitting 1,until the top orifice plate 40 is located inside the lower housingchamber 4a and the bottom orifice plate 45 is oriented, along with thebottom orifice 46, in the line bore 7 of the lower housing 4. With thisaction, the simultaneous application of 20 pounds of pressure to the lowpressure selector valve piston 85 in the housing interior 78a of thepressure selector valve 76 causes the low pressure selector valve piston85, middle selector valve piston 86 and differential pressure selectorvalve piston 87 to move linearly in concert in the housing interior 78aagainst the bias of the valve spring 77. This relocates the low pressureselector valve piston 85, middle selector valve piston 86 anddifferential pressure selector valve piston 87 such that the 20 poundsof air pressure in that portion of the housing interior 78a located inthe space between the low pressure selector valve piston 85 and themiddle selector valve piston 86 is vented to the atmosphere through thefirst meter vent 82. Accordingly, the pressure located in that portionof the housing interior 78a which is located in the space between thelow pressure selector valve piston 85 and the middle selector valvepiston 86 is atmospheric pressure only. This location of the lowpressure selector valve piston 85, middle selector valve piston 86 anddifferential pressure selector valve piston 87 against the tension inthe valve spring 77 thus sequentially relocates the low pressureselector valve piston 85 and the middle selector valve piston 86 on eachside of the first meter vent 82 and the first meter differentialpressure outlet 94, thereby blocking application of the line bore highpressure through the high pressure selector valve line 84 fromintroduction into the first meter differential pressure outlet 94 andfirst meter differential pressure feed line 93, to the first meter valve60. The first meter valve 60 is subjected to low pressure from the lowpressure side of the bottom orifice plate 45 and the differentialpressure in the first meter valve 60 is therefore reduced to zero, sinceresidual pressure on the high pressure side of the first recording meter72 is bled through the first meter differential pressure feed line 93and first meter differential pressure outlet 94, to the first meter vent82. However, the increased pressure on the high pressure side of thebottom orifice plate 45 is then transmitted from that portion of thehousing interior 78a located between the middle selector valve piston 86and the differential pressure selector valve system 87, through thesecond meter differential pressure outlet 96, which is now exposed andlies to the left of the differential pressure selector valve piston 87.This line bore high pressure is then transmitted to the second metervalve 89 through the second meter differential pressure feed line 95 atthe valve high pressure inlet 66 and the ball 68 is forced against theball seat 65 lying opposite the inlet plug 64, as illustrated in FIG. 5.This mechanical configuration of the second meter valve 89 facilitatespressurizing of the valve differential pressure outlet 70 of the secondmeter valve 89 and the second recording meter 91, by means of the meterdifferential pressure line 69. Since the second meter valve 89 is alsosubjected to pressure from the low pressure, downstream side of thebottom orifice plate 45, the second recording meter 91 now reads thedifferential pressure across the bottom orifice plate 45 and bottomorifice 46. This new differential pressure is then measured and recordedby the second recording meter 91, while the first recording meter 72 isnot operating. It will be appreciated from a consideration of themechanical sequence outlined above that if the pressure in the line bore7 is subsequently reduced, the entire sequence is reversed, whereby themeter measuring and recording operation is switched from the secondrecording meter 91 to the first recording meter 72 by reversing thesteps outlined above.

In each successive positioning of the top orifice 41 and bottom orifice46 in the line bore 7 as described above, it is highly advantageous tomanually adjust the corresponding top orifice plate 40 and bottomorifice plate 45 to a vertical position in the line bore 7, for accuracyin pressure differential across the orifice plates. This is accomplishedby loosening the bar set screws 44 in the respective threaded set screwapertures 47 in the lower housing extension 11 and slidably adjustingthe horizontal adjusting bar 28 in the adjusting bar slot to adjust thepiston rod 12a and the orifice plates to a desired position. The bar setscrews 44 are then retightened to hold the selected orifice plateposition in the line bore 7.

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings, under circumstanceswhere the plate carrier 48 must be removed to insert an alternativeplate carrier (not illustrated) having larger or smaller orifices, thefirst recording meter 72 and second recording meter 91 are initiallytaken out of service by manipulating conventional valves (notillustrated) in conventional fashion. An isolation valve 29, provided inthe first meter-selector valve line 81, is then closed to isolate thecylinder 13 from the rest of the differential pressure control system. Apair of bypass valves 30 are mounted in a bypass valve line 31, which isconnected to the first meter-selector valve line 81 that suppliespressurized fluid such as natural gas at a selected pressure, 20 psi,for example, to the cylinder 13. The isolation valve 29 and the bypassvalves 30 are then selectively opened, and the piston 12 is forcedupwardly in the cylinder 13 to raise the plate carrier 48 in the lowerextension chamber 10 and housing extension chamber 3a. This actioncauses the pinion teeth 25 of the lower carriage pinion 22 to engage therack teeth 51 of one of the rack segments 50 on the plate carrier 48 andfacilitates raising of the plate carrier 48. The piston rod 12a is thendisconnected from the lower end of the plate carrier 48 by unthreadingthe threaded cylinder neck 16 of the cylinder 13 from the lower housingextension 11 and pulling downwardly on the now exposed piston 12 todepress the tension bearings 57 against the tension springs 58a andallow the piston lock pin 71 to disengage the tension bearings 57. Thelower carriage pinion 22 can then be operated in conventional manner bya crank handle or the equivalent (not illustrated), to raise the platecarrier 48 from the position illustrated in FIG. 6, nearly to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, where the pinion teeth 25of the upper carriage pinion 20 engage the rack teeth 51 of one of therack segments 50. The upper carriage pinion 20 can then be operated inthe same manner as the lower carriage pinion 22, to raise the platecarrier 48 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The slide valve 53 isthen operated in conventional manner by rotation of the slide valvepinion 55 to close the housing extension chamber 3a from the lowerhousing chamber 4a and the valve stem 35 of a pressure release valve 32,provided on the upper housing 2 as illustrated in FIG. 2, is manipulatedto "blow down" or equalize the pressure inside the upper housing 2a andhousing extension chamber 3a to atmospheric pressure. The clamping andsealing bars 26 are then removed from the upper housing 2 by removingthe corresponding set screws 27 and the plate carrier 48 is removed fromthe upper housing chamber 2a and housing extension chamber 3a byoperation of the upper pinion 20, in conventional fashion. Replacementof the plate carrier 48 by an alternative plate carrier (notillustrated) is effected by reversing this procedure to install the newplate carrier and orifices inside the multi-orifice plate fitting 1 inthe configuration illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, the multi-plate orificeadjustment inside the multi-orifice plate fitting of this invention canbe remotely initiated by a radio signal which is received and processedby a remote transceiving unit 97, that operates a pneumatic switchingvalve 98. This functions in the same manner as the first recording meter72 pressure signal transmitted through the first meter-selector valveline 81, to the low pressure inlet port 79 of the pressure selectorvalve 76 and the piston 12 in the cylinder 13. Accordingly, fluid at apredetermined operating pressure, for example 20 psi, is supplied from asuitable source through the bypass line 31 to the pneumatic switchingvalve 98. When the pneumatic switching valve 98 is energized by theremote transceiving unit 97, the pressure signal is transmittedsimultaneously to the pressure selector valve 96 via the low pressureinlet port 79 and the piston 12, in either of the cylinder 13 variationsillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the system operates in the mannerdescribed above.

Referring again to FIG. 7 of the drawings the device of this inventioncan be operated by means of an optional control 100, illustrated inphantom and connected to the low pressure inlet port 79 of the pressureselector valve 76 by means of an optional control output line 102. Theoptional control 100 is also connected to the line bore 7 of themulti-orifice plate fitting 1 means of the high pressure selector valveline 84. An optional control input line 101 is connected to a valve (notillustrated) on the fluid pipeline (not illustrated) to furnishoperating pressure to the optional control 100. Furthermore, as alsoillustrated in FIG. 7, a first pressure regulator 92 and second pressureregulator 92a may be provided in the system and are illustrated inphantom as optional pieces of equipment. The first pressure regulator 92is connected to the upper one of the air conduits 75 by means of a firstregulator output line 99, also illustrated in phantom. The firstpressure regulator 92 is also connected to the first meter differentialpressure feed line 93. Similarly, the second pressure regulator 92a hasa second regulator output line 99a connected to the lower of the two airconduits 75 and the input to the second pressure regulator 92a isconnected to the second meter differential pressure feed line 95, asillustrated. Accordingly, under circumstances where the optional control100, first pressure regulator 92 and second pressure regulator 92a areplaced in service in applicant's system, it will be appreciated that theoutput pressure from the optional control 100 and extending through theoptional control output line 102 to the low pressure inlet port 79 ofthe pressure selective valve 76 will either be 0 or 20 psi. Furthermore,each of the first pressure regulator 92 and second pressure regulator92a are designed to reduce the incoming pressure from the pressureselector valve 76 to, in turn, reduce the pressure applied to therespective air conduits 75, as hereinafter further described.Accordingly, when a pressure fluctuation is applied from themulti-orifice plate fitting 1 to the optional control 100 through thehigh pressure selector valve line 84, if the control 100 is at apressure of 0 psi, then this 0 pressure condition is applied to the lowpressure inlet port 79 of the pressure selector valve 76 and also to thehousing interior 78a between the middle selector valve piston 86 and thedifferential pressure selector valve piston 87. The 0 pressure conditionis simultaneously applied to the first meter differential pressure feedline 93 through the first meter differential pressure outlet 94 of thepressure selector valve 76 and thus, to the first pressure regulator 92.The 0 pressure condition is also applied to the valve high pressureinlet 66 of the first meter valve 60 and from the first meter valve 60into the first recording meter 72 through the meter differentialpressure line 69. When the pressure of the fluid flowing through theline bore 7 increases, the optional control outlet signal automaticallyincreases to 20 psi and is applied to the optional control output line102 by operation of the Optional control 100. This pressure applied tothe low pressure selector valve piston 85 causes the low pressureselector valve piston 85, middle selector valve piston 86 anddifferential pressure selector valve piston 87 to retract in concertagainst the bias of the valve spring 77 inside the selector valvehousing 78 of the pressure selector valve 76. This movement of thepistons closes the high pressure inlet port 80, as the space between themiddle selector valve piston 86 and the differential pressure selectorvalve piston 87 is displaced from the first meter differential pressureoutlet 94 and spans the high pressure inlet port 80. Accordingly,pressure from the first meter valve 60 extending through the first meterdifferential pressure feed line 93 is allowed to exhaust through thefirst meter vent 82 located in the selector valve housing 78, since thelow pressure selector valve piston 85 and middle selector valve piston86 span the first meter differential pressure outlet 94 and the adjacentfirst meter vent 82. This condition facilitates a 0 pressure conditionin the first pressure regulator 92, since the first pressure regulator92 is connected to the first meter differential pressure feed line 93.Accordingly, a 0 pressure condition also exists in the top one of theair conduits 75. Since a positive air pressure is now applied to thesecond meter differential pressure feed line 95 from the high pressureinlet port 80 and the second meter differential pressure outlet 96 inthe pressure selector valve 76, that pressure is also applied to thesecond meter valve 89 and the second pressure regulator 92a and also tothe second regulator output line 99a, connected to the lower one of theair conduits 75. This pressure differential applied to the interior ofthe cylinder 13 causes the cylinder piston 12 to move upwardly and shiftthe plate carrier 48, as well as the top orifice plate 40 and bottomorifice plate 45, with respect to the line bore 7, as heretoforedescribed.

Referring again to FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be furtherappreciated by those skilled in the art that the first pressureregulator 92 and second pressure regulator 92a are optional and may beeliminated in favor of construction of a cylinder 13 which is capable ofhandling full line pressure from the respective first meter valve 60 andsecond meter valve 89, directly into the air conduits 75. Thisconnection is facilitated by eliminating the first pressure regulator 92and second pressure regulator 92a and connecting the first regulatoroutput line 99 directly from the upper one of the air conduits 75 to thefirst meter differential pressure feed line 93 and the second regulatoroutput line 99a directly from the lower one of the air conduits 75 tothe second meter differential pressure feed line 95. It is furtherunderstd that the first recording meter 72 and optional control 100 canbe combined in a single unit, if so desired.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that themulti-orifice plate and fitting with positioner, differential selectorand horizontal adjusting bar of this invention operates in a purelymechanical way to quickly, easily, effectively and accurately repositionorifice plates and orifices in the line bore of a specially designedorifice plate fitting and switch recording meters to accommodate thecurrent orifice plate and orifice, without the necessity of removing theplate carrier. Furthermore, this mechanical operation requires noelaborate and expensive electronic systems nor power source and isreliable and inexpensive. Moreover, while the system has been describedin terms of two orifice plates and orifices of different size in asingle plate carrier as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it willbe appreciated that substantially any number of orifice plates andorifices may be provided in linear spacing in a plate carrier 48, asdesired. Under these circumstances, a separate recording meter and metervalve would be required for each additional orifice plate and orificeand each of the recording meters, except the last meter in the pressuresensing sequence, would not require a signal output capability like the20 pound signal generated by the first recording meter 72, responsive toa pressure increase in the fluid flowing through the pipeline and theline bore 7 of the multi-orifice plate fitting 1. Since, according tothe exemplary system illustrated in the drawings, only the firstrecording meter 72 must be fitted with an output signal for switchingthe pressure-recording function to the second recording meter 91responsive to a fluid pressure increase, the second recording meter 91need not be so fitted. However, if a third recording meter was added tothe selector system, it would not require such signal capabilities,although the second recording meter 91 would.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,what is claimed is:
 1. A multi-orifice plate fitting and platepositioning apparatus for mounting in a fluid transmission system andmeasuring the pressure of fluid flowing in the system, said apparatuscomprising housing means, a multi-orifice plate having at least twospaced orifices, said multi-orifice plate adjustably located in saidhousing means, with one of said orifices disposed in the path of thefluid for defining a high pressure side and a low pressure side in thefluid on each side of said one of said orifices; differential pressureselector means provided in pressure-sensing communication with the fluidon each side of said one of said orifices, for sensing a pressure changeacross said one of said orifices; plate piston means carried by saidhousing means in engagement with said multi-orifice plate, said platepiston means provided in pressure-operating communication with saiddifferential pressure selector means; and a horizontal adjusting barslidably and horizontally disposed in said housing means, saidhorizontal adjusting bar engaging said plate piston means, whereby saidmulti-orifice plate is shifted vertically in said housing means toselectively locate said orifices in the path of the fluid, responsive tosaid pressure change and operation of said differential pressureselector means and said plate piston means and said multi-orifice plateis selectively horizontally shifted in said housing means tohorizontally align said orifices in the path of the fluid.
 2. Themulti-orifice fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid housing means comprises an upper housing; upper plate-engagingmeans provided in the interior of said upper housing for selectivelyengaging and lifting said multi-orifice plate; a lower housing carriedby said upper housing and a line bore provided in the interior of saidlower housing for carrying the fluid; lower plate-engaging meansprovided in the interior of said lower housing for selectively engagingand vertically shifting said multi-orifice plate; and a slide valveslidably mounted in the interior of said lower housing for selectivelyisolating the interior of said upper housing from the interior of saidlower housing and facilitating removal of said multi-orifice plate fromsaid upper housing and said lower housing.
 3. The multi-orifice platefitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platepiston means comprises a plate piston cylinder carried by said housingmeans in fixed relationship; plate piston operating means provided insaid plate piston cylinder; a plate piston disposed in said plate pistoncylinder in contact with said plate piston operating means; and a pistonrod carried by said plate piston, said piston rod engaging saidmulti-orifice plate, whereby vertical movement of said plate piston andsaid piston rod responsive to operation of said plate piston operatingmeans shifts said multi-orifice plate vertically in said housing means.4. The multi-orifice fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 1wherein:(a) said housing means comprises an upper housing; upperplate-engaging means provided in the interior of said upper housing forselectively engaging and lifting said multi-orifice plate; a lowerhousing carried by said upper housing and a line bore provided in theinterior of said lower housing for carrying the fluid; lowerplate-engaging means provided in the interior of said lower housing forselectively engaging and vertically shifting said multi-orifice plate;and a slide valve slidably mounted in the interior of said lower housingfor selectively isolating the interior of said upper housing from theinterior of said lower housing and facilitating removal of saidmulti-orifice plate from said upper housing and said lower housing; and(b) said plate piston means comprises a plate piston cylinder carried bysaid lower housing in fixed relationship; plate piston operating meansprovided in said plate piston cylinder; a plate piston disposed in saidplate piston cylinder in contact with said plate piston operating means;and a piston rod carried by said plate piston, said piston rod engagingsaid multi-orifice plate, whereby vertical movement of said plate pistonand said piston rod responsive to operation of said plate pistonoperating means shifts said multi-orifice plate vertically in saidinterior of said upper housing and said lower housing.
 5. Themulti-orifice fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid differential pressure selector means comprises pressure selectorvalve means provided in pressure-sensing communication with the highpressure side of said one of said orifices; at least two meter valvemeans provided in pressure-operating communication with said pressureselector valve means and in pressure-sensing communication with the lowpressure side of said one of said orifices; and at least two recordingmeter means provided in pressure-operating communication with said metervalve means, respectively, and in pressure-sensing communication withsaid low pressure side of said one of said orifices, whereby saidrecording meter means are selectively operated by said meter valvemeans, respectively, responsive to energizing of said pressure selectorvalve means by said pressure change across said one of said orifices. 6.The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim5 wherein said housing means comprises an upper housing; upperplate-engaging means provided in the interior of said upper housing forselectively engaging said multi-orifice plate; a lower housing carriedby said upper housing and a line bore provided in the interior of saidlower housing for carrying the fluid; lower plate-engaging meansprovided in the interior of said lower housing for selectively engagingand vertically shifting said multi-orifice plate; and a slide valveslidably mounted in the interior of said lower housing for selectivelyisolating the interior of said upper housing from the interior of saidlower housing and facilitating removal of said multi-orifice plate fromsaid upper housing and said lower housing.
 7. The multi-orifice platefitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 5 wherein said platepiston means comprises a plate piston cylinder carried by said housingmeans in fixed relationship; plate piston operating means provided insaid plate piston cylinder; a plate piston disposed in said plate pistoncylinder in contact with said plate piston operating means; and a pistonrod carried by said plate piston, said piston rod engaging saidmulti-orifice plate, whereby vertical movement of said plate piston andsaid piston rod responsive to operation of said plate piston operatingmeans shifts said multi-orifice plate vertically in said housing means.8. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein:(a) said housing means comprises an upper housing; upperplate-engaging means provided in the interior of said upper housing forselectively engaging and vertically shifting said multi-orifice plate; alower housing carried by said upper housing and a line bore provided inthe interior of said lower housing for carrying the fluid; lowerplate-engaging means provided in the interior of said lower housing forselectively engaging and vertically shifting said multi-orifice plate;and a slide valve slidably mounted in the interior of said lower housingfor selectively isolating the interior of said upper housing from theinterior of said lower housing and facilitating removal of saidmulti-orifice plate from said upper housing and said lower housing; and(b) said plate piston means comprises a plate piston cylinder carried bysaid lower housing in fixed relationship; plate piston operating meansprovided in said plate piston cylinder; a plate piston disposed in saidplate piston cylinder in contact with said plate piston operating means;and a piston rod carried by said plate piston and said multi-orificeplate, whereby vertical movement of said plate piston and said pistonrod responsive to operation of said plate piston operating means shiftssaid multi-orifice plate vertically in said interior of said upperhousing and said lower housing.
 9. A multi-orifice plate fitting andplate positioning apparatus for mounting in a pipe and measuring thepressure of fluid flowing in the pipe, said apparatus comprising ahousing having a hollow interior and a flow path for accommodating thefluid; a multi-orifice plate having at least two spaced orifices, saidmulti-orifice plate adjustably and substantially vertically oriented insaid hollow interior, with a selected one of said orifices disposed inthe flow path of the fluid for defining a high pressure side and a lowpressure side in the fluid on each side of said one of said orifices;differential pressure selector means provided in pressure-sensingcommunication with the fluid on each side of said one of said orifices,for sensing a pressure change across said one of said orifices; platepiston means carried by said housing means in engagement with saidmulti-orifice plate, said plate piston means provided inpressure-operating communication with said differential pressureselector means; and a horizontal adjusting bar slidably and horizontallydisposed in said housing means, said horizontal adjusting bar engagingsaid plate piston means, whereby said multi-orifice plate is shiftedvertically in said housing means to selectively locate said orifices inthe path of the fluid, responsive to said pressure change across saidone of said orifices and operation of said differential pressureselector means and said plate piston means, and said multi-orifice plateis selectively horizontally shifted in said housing means tohorizontally align said orifices in the path of the fluid.
 10. Themulti-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 9wherein said plate piston means comprises a plate piston cylindercarried by the lower end of said housing in fixed relationship; platepiston operating means provided in said plate piston housing; a platepiston disposed in said plate piston cylinder in contact with said platepiston operating means; and a piston rod carried by said plate pistonand engaging said multi-orifice plate, whereby vertical movement of saidplate piston and said piston rod responsive to operation of said platepiston operating means shifts said multi-orifice plate vertically insaid hollow interior of said housing.
 11. The multi-orifice platefitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 9 wherein saiddifferential pressure selector means further comprises pressure selectorvalve means provided in pressure-sensing communication with said highpressure side of said one of said orifices; at least two meter valvemeans provided in pressure-operating communication with said pressureselector valve means and in pressure-sensing communication with said lowpressure side of said one of said orifices; an optional control meansprovided in pressure-sensing communication with said pressure selectorvalve means and said high pressure side of said one of said orifices;and at least one recording meter means provided in pressure-operatingcommunication with said meter valve means, respectively, and inpressure-sensing communication with said low pressure side of said oneof said orifices, whereby said recording meter means are selectivelyoperated by said meter valve means, respectively, responsive toenergizing of said optional control means and said pressure selectorvalve means by said pressure change across said one of said orifices.12. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein:(a) said plate piston means comprises a plate pistoncylinder carried by the lower end of said housing in fixed relationship;plate piston operating means provided in said plate piston cylinder; aplate piston disposed in said plate piston cylinder in contact with saidplate piston operating means; and a piston rod carried by said platepiston and engaging said multi-orifice plate, whereby vertical movementof said plate piston and said piston rod responsive to operation of saidplate piston operating means shifts said multi-orifice plate verticallyin said hollow interior of said housing; and (b) said differentialpressure selector means comprises pressure selector valve means providedin pressure-sensing communication with said high pressure side of saidone of said orifices; at least two meter valve means provided inpressure-operating communication with said pressure selector valve meansand in pressure-sensing communication with said low pressure side ofsaid one of said orifices; an optional control means provided inpressure-sensing communication with said pressure selector valve meansand said high pressure side of said one of said orifices; and at leastone recording meter means provided in pressure-operating communicationwith said meter valve means, respectively, and in pressure-sensingcommunication with said low pressure side of said one of said orifices,whereby said recording meter means are selectively operated by saidmeter valve means, respectively, responsive to energizing of saidoptional control means and said pressure selector valve means by saidpressure change across said one of said orifices; and at least onerecording meter means provided in pressure-operating communication withsaid meter valve means, respectively, and in pressure-sensingcommunication with said low pressure side of said one of said orifices,whereby said recording meter means are selectively operated by saidmeter valve means, respectively, responsive to energizing of saidpressure selector valve means by said pressure change across said one ofsaid orifices.
 13. A multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioningapparatus for mounting in a pipeline and measuring the pressure of fluidflowing in the pipeline, said apparatus comprising a split housinghaving a hollow interior and a flow path for accommodating the fluid; amulti-orifice plate having at least two spaced orifices, saidmulti-orifice plate removably and vertically and horizontally adjustablylocated in said hollow interior, with one of said orifices transverselydisposed in said flow path of the fluid for defining a high pressureupstream side and a low pressure downstream side in the fluid on eachside of said one of said orifices; differential pressure selector meansprovided in pressure-sensing communication with the fluid on the highpressure upstream side of said one of said orifices and the low pressuredownstream side of said one of said orifices, for sensing a pressurechange across said one of said orifices; plate piston means carried bysaid split housing in engagement with said multi-orifice plate andprovided in pressure-operating communication with said differentialpressure selector means; and a horizontal adjusting bar slidablydisposed in horizontal orientation in said split housing below said flowpath of the fluid, said adjusting bar engaging said plate piston means,whereby said multi-orifice plate is vertically shifted in said hollowinterior of said split housing to locate the other of said orifices inthe path of the fluid, responsive to said pressure change and operationof said differential pressure selector means and said plate piston meansand said multi-orifice plate is horizontally shifted in the housingresponsive to manual horizontal adjustment of said horizontal adjustingbar.
 14. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatusof claim 13 wherein said plate piston means comprises a plate pistoncylinder carried by the lower end of said split housing in fixedrelationship; plate piston operating means provided in said plate pistoncylinder; a plate piston disposed in said plate piston cylinder incontact with said plate piston operating means; and a piston rod carriedby said plate piston and connected to said multi-orifice plate, wherebyvertical movement of said plate piston and said piston rod responsive tooperating of said plate piston operating means selectively forces saidmulti-orifice plate upwardly and downwardly in said hollow interior ofsaid split housing.
 15. The multi-orifice plate fitting and platepositioning apparatus of claim 13 wherein said differential pressureselector means comprises a pressure selector valve provided inpressure-sensing communication with said high pressure upstream side ofsaid one of said orifices; at least two meter Valve means provided inpressure-operating communication with said pressure selector valve andin pressure-sensing communication with said low pressure downstream sideof said one of said orifices; and at least one optional control andrecording meter means provided in pressure-operating communication withsaid meter valve means, respectively, and in pressure-sensingcommunication with said high pressure upstream side of said one of saidorifices, whereby said optional control and recording meter means isselectively operated by said meter valve means, respectively, responsiveto energizing of said pressure selector valve by said pressure changeacross said one of said orifices.
 16. The multi-orifice plate fittingand plate positioning apparatus of claim 13 wherein:(a) said platepiston means comprises a plate piston cylinder carried by the lower endof said split housing in fixed relationship; plate piston operatingmeans provided in said plate piston cylinder; a plate piston disposed insaid plate piston cylinder in contact with said plate piston operatingmeans; and a piston rod carried by said plate piston and threadablyconnected to said multi-orifice plate, whereby vertical movement of saidplate piston and said piston rod responsive to operation of said platepiston operating means shifts said multi-orifice plate vertically insaid hollow interior of said split housing; and (b) said differentialpressure selector means further comprises a pressure selector valveprovided in pressure-sensing communication with said high pressureupstream side of said one of said orifices; at least two meter valvemeans provided in pressure-operating communication with said pressureselector valve and in pressure-sensing communication with said lowpressure downstream side of said one of said orifices; and at least oneoptional control and recording meter means provided inpressure-operating communication with said meter valve means,respectively, and in pressure-sensing communication with said highpressure upstream side of said one of said orifices, whereby saidoptional control and recording meter means is selectively operated bysaid meter valve means, respectively, responsive to energizing of saidpressure selector valve by said pressure change across said one of saidorifices.
 17. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioningapparatus of claim 16 wherein said plate piston operating meanscomprises a coil spring.
 18. The multi-orifice plate fitting and platepositioning apparatus of claim 16 wherein said plate positioningoperating means comprises an operating fluid.
 19. The multi-orificeplate fitting and plate positioning apparatus of claim 16 comprisingpressure regulator means connected to said plate piston cylinder andsaid meter valve means for reducing air pressure to said plate pistoncylinder.
 20. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioningapparatus of claim 13 comprising a remote transceiving unit adapted forreceiving radio signals on a selected frequency and pneumatic switchingvalve means electrically connected to said remote transceiving unit andpneumatically connected to said differential pressure selector means andsaid plate piston means, whereby remote vertical adjustment of saidmulti-orifice plate is effected in said hollow interior of said splithousing responsive to energizing of said remote transceiving unit by theradio signals and operation of said pneumatic switching valve means,said differential pressure selector means and said plate piston means.21. The multi-orifice plate fitting and plate positioning apparatus ofclaim 20 wherein:(a) said plate piston means further comprises a platepiston cylinder carried by the lower end of said split housing in fixedrelationship; plate piston operating means provided in said plate pistoncylinder; a plate piston disposed in said plate piston cylinder incontact with said plate piston operating means; and a piston rod carriedby said plate piston and threadably connected to said multi-orificeplate, whereby vertical movement of said plate piston and said pistonrod responsive to operation of said plate piston operating means shiftssaid multi-orifice plate vertically in said hollow interior of saidsplit housing; and (b) said differential pressure selector means furthercomprises a pressure selector valve provided in pressure-sensingcommunication with said high pressure upstream side of said one of saidorifices; at least two meter valve means provided in pressure-operatingcommunication with said pressure selector valve and in pressure-sensingcommunication with said low pressure downstream side of said one of saidorifices; and at least one optional control and recording meter meansprovided in pressure-operating communication with said meter valvemeans, respectively, and in pressure-sensing communication with saidhigh pressure upstream side of said one of said orifices, whereby saidoptional control and recording meter means is selectively operated bysaid meter valve means, respectively, responsive to energizing of saidpressure selector valve by said pressure change across said one of saidorifices.